Automatic machine for treating fibrous materials.



T. ALLSOP & W. W. SIBSON.- AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR TREATING PIBROUS MATERIALS.

Patented Dec. 17,1912.

' APPLICATION FILED 11110.28, 1907. 1,047,874.

a SHEETSSHEET 1.

with now I T. ALLSOP & W. W. SIBSON. AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR TREATING PIBROUS MATERIALS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28. 1907.

, 1,047.874, Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

3 SHEET S-SHEET 2.

T. ALLSOP & W. W. SIBSON.

AUTOMATIC MACHINE FOR TREATING FIBROU'S MATERIALS.

APPLIOATION FILED DEG.28,,1907.

' 1,047,874, 5 Patented Dec.17,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

2/01 I?" eooeo aWouu q- UNIT D sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

TIIoMAs ALLso AND WALTER. w. sIEsoN, 0E PHILADELPHIA, PENNsYLvANIA, ASSIGNORS o THE PHILADELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, or PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC AGHINE F012. TREATINeTIERoUs MATERIALS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application flled necember as, 1907. Serial No. 408,424.

Patented Dec. 17, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, .THOMAS ALLsoP and WALTER W. SmsoN, citizens of the Umted States, residing at 'Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Penns'ylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Machines for Treating Fibrous Materials; and

we do hereby declare the following to beafull, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertams'to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to Improvements in automatic machines for treating fibrous materials, \and is especially deslgned for the treatment of straw in braids or ske ns, although useful, bbviously, for treating tobacco, yarns, etc.

The object of the present invention is to provide a machine of the character stated wherein is included means for effectually.

treating the material to dry out the same, and to permit the materialso dried to emerge from the machine in propercondltion for subsequent handling, the machine "also embodyingsimple and efiicient means to properly control circulation of the air and prevent the latter escaping from the compartments wherein the same" is circulatedv A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine susceptible of con,-

version from either a chain machine to an apron machine, or vice versa, or capable of use as a combined machine, that 1s, by the employment simultaneously of both the chain and apron conveyers, thereby adapting the machine for use under different conditions of the material to be treated, and permitting a single machine to successfully operate upon the material under conditions requiring separate and distinct handling thereof to obtain proper conditioning of the materiaL- The invention also aims to provide a ma- .chine of the character stated having embodied therein novel features of construction for accomplishing uniform distribution of the air in its circulation through the machine.

Furthermore, the invention has in view a novel arrangement of ournals and bearings,

, whereby the same are positioned at the exteaving these general objects in view, and others that will appear as the nature of the lmprovements is better understood, the invention consists substantially in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings forming a part here-' of, and "pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan -view, partially in section, of an automatic machine constructed in accordance with and embodying the principles of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, also partly in section, thereof. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View, on an enlarged scale,

fied arrangement. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an alternative construction. I

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the casing or housing of the herein described machine. This casing or housing is formed of suitable material adapted to serve under the heat conditions prevailing therein, and the same is divided into a drying chamber 2, and a cooling chamber 3 through the medium of a partition 4 that extends transversely of the casing or .housing, and preferably at 'a point midway the ends thereof.

Each of the compartments 2 and 3 is provided with lateral circulating chambers 5, said chambers being formed bypartitions 6 that extend longitudinally of said compartments, said partitionsfi being spaced suifi ciently from the sides of the casing or hous-i ing 1 to impart to the lateral compartments the required area to sustain the proper circulation of the air, as hereinafter referred to.

10. One of these fans 9 is contiguous to the upper portion of each of. the circulating chambers 5, and it will thus be seen that by reason thereof the air is freely circulated between the drying chamber 2, the cooling chamber 3, and the chambers 5 arranged at the sides of said chambers 2 and 3, respectively, two of the fans 9 being mounted upon each of the shafts 10 and being ar ranged to blow in opposite directions, so that whether the blast from the fans is directed into the lateral chambers 5, as shown by arrows in Fig. 3, or the direction of the blast is reversed, a free circulation of the air into and from the chambers 2 and 3 is assured.

As before premised, the present invention has in view certain features of construction for accomplishing uniform distribution of the air. To this end the roof 11 of the casing is provided at its central portion with a longitudinally-extending V-s aped depression 12. This provides a pair 0 oppositelyinclined laterally-directed deflectors 13 that extend from that portion of the roof covering the lateral chambers 5 to a point medial of the roof. Therefore, with the fans blowing into the lateral chambers 5 the air is bodily lifted in an upward direction in each of the chambers 2 and 3, and is equally divided so that a portion thereof is exhausted at one side of each of the chambers 2 and 3, while the remaining portion is exhausted at the other side. Should, however, the fans be blowing into each of the chambers 2 and 3, the blast contacts with the deflectors 13, and is directed downwardly thereby, so that the blasts from the fans at the opposite sides of said chambers unite and are forced downwardly upon the conveyer to be hereinafter described,

By providing the V-sha ed depression 12 in the roof, it will also o seen that each shaft 10 extends entirely across the chambers 2 and 3, and the lateral circulating chambers 5 at the sides thereof, the extremities of said shafts being journaled in suitable bearings 14;, positioned at the ex.- terior of the sides of the casing or housing, while the central portions of said shafts are supported by bearings 15 arranged upon a longitudinally-extending stringer 16 at the convergence of the deflectors 13. These bear ings 15 are also at the exterior of thecasing or housing 1, and, manifestly, by reason of the bearings 14.- and 15 being so positioned the same are not subjected to the high temperature conditions within the casing or housing, and, consequently, are maintained cool by the atmospheric air. liability of fire to a minimum, and, at the same time, the lubricants employed are prevented being deposited upon the material under treatment within the machine, so that staining or injuring thereof is avoided.

\For effecting transit of the material to be treated throu h the machine, a pair .of endless chains 1 is employed. Each of these chains is positioned at one side of the chambers 2- and 3, and travel around sprocket wheels 18 journaled at the exterior of the casing 1, at the ends thereof, said This reduces wheels being carried by suitable shafts 19.

The links of the chains 17 are each providedwith suitable books 20, and said hooks form sockets 21 designed to receive supportin poles 22, the latter being detachably he (1 in the sockets 21, and being carried b the chains 17 at the upper stretch thereo To the poles 22 is attached the material to be treated. Where the straw is in braids or skeins, the same is suspended. from the poles 22 by cords or other suspending devices, and consequently it will be seen that the material will hang so that the lengths of the braids or skeins stand in juxtaposition to each other, and hence are subjected to the free action of the circulated air. In the transit of the chains 17 through the machine the upper and lower stretches thereof are sustained by longitudinally-extending guides 23, and to permit the free passage of the chains 0 nings 24 are formed in the feed and dellvery ends of the machine, and likwise in the partition .4.

Arranged below the conveyer chain 17 is an endless apron conveyer 25, which conveyer is preferably in the form of a woven wire fabric, thus providing a perforated structure for the free passage of the air, and this conveyer is designed to receive the material to be dried when it is not required to subject the same to the action'of the air while the material is in a suspended position. In other words, there are times when the material under treatment can be properly conditioned by merely placing it, either loosely or in bunched form, upon the conveyer 25, and under these conditions, by positioning the same upon the conveyer 25, it is quite evident that a thorough drying of the material may be effected. The conveyer 25 is mounted upon drums 26, also arranged at the exterior of the housing or casing 1, and at the ends thereof, and said drums are suitably driven in connection with the wheels 18 to impart to the apron 25 substantially the same surface speed as that of the chains 17, although'either may which it is desired to treat the materials,

be dr ven at different speeds from the other, in accordance with the conditions under The air in the drying chamber 2 is heated by suitable banks-of coils 27, said coils being preferably fed'with steam, and. a bank of these-coils is arranged in each of the compartments or chambers Under this arrangement the air in the drying chamber 2 may be raised to any required degree,-

and manifestly the material in passing through the chamber 2 is subjected to this heated air, and thereby dried to the required extent. In the cooling chamber 3, however,

it is desired to reducethe temperature of the material before it emerges from the machine, and, obviously, the air is merely circulated therein, and in the chambers 5, for reducing the temperature of the material as it asses through the chamber 3.

To con e the circulated air of the compartments 2 and 3 respectively therein each of the openings 24 is provided with a pair of balanced doors 28. One of these doors is arranged at the upper and lower edge of each ofsaid openings, so that, in balanced position, the doors completely close the openings 24. I The doors 28 are preferably of sheet iron, that they ma be as light as possible, and each is provided with acounter-balance 29 for returning the same to closed position when the material has passed beyond the doors. These doors are provided for useprimaril when the chain conveyer 17 is being emp oyed, and as the various braids or skeins of the material come into contact with the doors 28 the latter yield in the direction of movement of the braids or skeins,'so that the material readily enters the respective compartments, but as soon as the material has passed the doors 28 they swing into closed position, and this permits the air to continue its circulation undisturbed, and without passing from either of the compartments to the other, or from the compartments to the exterior of the machine. In many instances the braids or skeins of material being treated vary in length; therefore, the extent to which the doors 28 open is varied in accordance with the length of the braids or skeins, and this permits only suflicient space being formed for the entry of the braids or skeins without unduly opening the apertures 24. Each of the lower doors 28 is also provided with a dependin flexible apron 29, said aprons being pre erably formed of canvas, and said aprons bear upon the upper stretch of the apron conveyer 25, so that when the material is deposited upon this conveyer the same may readily ass through the respective openings, and immediately upon its passage the a rons 29 fall back upon the.conveyer toe ectually close the spaces between the latter and the lower doors 28.

operation may' efiecte If desired, the doors 28 may be provided with handles at the exterior of the casing or housing 1, to permit their manual operation should occasion require, and this construction is disclosed in Fig. 6,: the handles being designated by the numeral 30'. '.Should. it be desired to use the machine merel as an apron machine, the chains 17 may e removed,', whereu on the treating with the conveyer25. as the sole medium of propulsion for the material. \Under these conditions the openings 24 a closed by adjustable doors 31, said doors being mounted in guides 32, and-operated by flexible cables 33, or other suitable means. When it is desired to use the machine as an apron machine the doors 31 are lowered into close proximity with the iilipper stretch of the conveyer 25, but su clent space is permitted to remain between the doors and the conveyer to permit the passage of the material into and through the machine.

The conveyer 2,5 is su ported by suitable guides 34, similar .to t e guides 23, said guides extending lengthwise of the machine,

and at suitable points in the latter bearing' what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

'1. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing. or housing divided into compartments for the circulation of the air therein, of a laterally inclined deflector extending lengthwise of said casing or housing, means arranged at the side portion of the casing or housing adjacent to said deflector and coiiperating with the latter to circulate the air within the casing or housing, and means for conveying material through said casing or housing.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing or housing divided into compartments for'the circulation of the air therein, of a laterall inclined deflector extending lengthwise 0 said casing or. housing, a fan arranged at the side portion of the casing or housing adjacent to said deflector and cooperating with the.

latter into drying latter into drying and cooling chambers,

said partition having an opening, chain and apron conveyers passing through said casing or housing, and arranged in superimposed relation, yieldingly mounted doors arranged in said openings for controlling the same, and slidably-mounted doors arranged adjacent to said openings for closing the same when the chain conveyer is not in use. 4. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing or housing, theends of which are provided with openings, of a partition extending transversely of said casing or housing and dividing the latter into drying and cooling chambers, said partition having an opening, chain and apron conveyors passing through said casing or housing, and arranged in superimposed relation, yieldingly mounted balanced doors arranged in' said openings for controlling the same, and slidably-mounted doors arranged adjacent to said openings for closing the same when the chain conveyer is not in use.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing or housing,

the ends of which are provided with openings, of a partition extending transversely of said casing or housing, and dividing the and cooling, chambers, said partition hav ng an opening, chain and apron conveyers passing through said casing or housing, and arranged in superimposed relation, doors arranged in said openings for controlling the same, aprons associated wlth said doors and cooperating with the apron conveyer to close the space between the doors and said conveyer, and' slidably-mounted doors arranged adjacent to said openings for closing the same when the chain conveyer is not in use.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination wit-h a casing or housing having a laterally-inclined deflector at the roof thereof, whereby to effect a uniform distribution of circulated air within the casing or housing, of means for conveying material through said casing or housing, and means for circulating the air within the casing or housing.

In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing or housing the roof of which is provided with a V- shaped depression to form oppositely disposed defiectors, whereby to eifect a uniform distribution of circulated air within the easing or housing, of means for conveying material through said casing or housing, and means for circulating the air within the casing or housing.

'8. In a machine of the class described, the combination with a casing or housing the .roof of which is provided with a V- shaped depression to form oppositely disposed deflectors, whereby to effect a uniform distribution of circulated air within the casing or housing, said casing or housing being divided into drying and cooling chambers, of means for conveying material through said casing or housing, and means for circulating the air in each of said chambers.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures, in the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS ALLSOP. WALTER W. SIBSON. Witnesses:

HARRY L. FEN'roN, RALPH M. ERWIN. 

